energy biomass
apply to any renewable heat systems that were completed after 15th July 2009.
The right fuel
There is considerable variation between the properties of wood chips and wood pellets. Wood chips are produced by chipping or shredding various sources of wood, including traditionally managed woodlands and short rotation coppice (using fast-growing species such as willow). However, chips tend to vary in size and moisture content (typically 25- 35%), so that sophisticated boiler controls are generally required to handle the varying fuel properties. Wood pellets are manufactured from
sawdust, shavings and finely reduced wood waste (some of which comes from further processing of wood chips), compressed into pellets of consistent size
Using carbon- neutral
biomass fuels is a very quick way to reduce carbon
emissions, especially in older
buildings.
with a consistent moisture content of around 10%. This means they have a higher calorific value than chips and will burn predictably with a consistent heat output.
“Using carbon-neutral biomass fuels is
a very quick way to reduce carbon emissions, especially in older buildings where heating may account for as much as 40% of emissions,” notes George Sands of York City Council, “However, before proceeding with any such project it’s vital to establish which type of technology will deliver the best results. “After a lot of research we concluded
that wood pellets offered the best results. Not only do pellets give more consistent and reliable combustion compared to wood chips, they also require less storage space, they lend themselves to automatic fuel feeding mechanisms and produce less ash,” he continued.
In other situations, wood chips may be the most viable option, such as when there is a consistent supply of wood from local forestry and/or short rotation coppice plantations. For example, Pilgrim Hospital in Lincolnshire is using wood chips for its new biomass boiler because it has been able to source a plentiful and consistent supply from local Forestry Commission operations. These two projects illustrate the importance of considering all of the implications of fuel choice, including cost, maintenance requirements, storage volumes and deliveries.
Delivery options
“Because of the volumes involved, chips are normally delivered by tipper lorry, and this will determine the dimensions for access routes and turning circles,” notes Andy Owens of Hoval. “Below-ground storage will also be required to receive fuel from the tipper, and the irregular shape and size of chips means they need more robust handling equipment, compared to pellets. “On the plus side, chips cost less than
pellets, so this may enter the overall equation, though it’s worth noting that the cheapest chips will usually produce
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